This book was such a fun read. Yes, it's totally predictable, but that's OK. Even knowing what was going to happen, I still smiled throughout the story, and chuckled a few times too.

Holly & Ivy are the kind of friends we'd all be lucky up have. They're there for each other, no matter what. You can't ask for more. This book is more about their friendship, in my eyes, which I love.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3⭐️ I normally rate my Christmas reads very easy and while I liked this one it just wasn’t my favorite.

While this book is about friendship, it was also about 2 friends falling in love and therefore 2 romances that felt very insta-love, and rushed. A very easy read and definitely will get you into the holiday spirit

This was an advanced read copy I received through Netgalley so it’s not going to be officially published until October 8, 2024! But this is my honest review!

Add this book to your to read list, I promise you won’t regret it! & then let me know what you thought!

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The Holiday Honeymoon Switch was a cute holiday romance story. You get viewpoints from both of the friends on their vacations. While I enjoyed the story, I will say that I'm not a huge fan of the insta-love in Contemporary Romance books, although I understand it needed to fit in the timeline of the girls' vacations. Overall, the story gave me Hallmark movie vibes (especially with the Holidays), so if you like to cuddle up with a blanket and watch Hallmark movies, I think you'd enjoy this!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

a fun, enjoyable holiday romance read!

I loved the dual story-line and the overall concept of the book! The two FMCs were likable, and you rooted for their success. I liked that the storylines were also basically two completely different words - outdoorsy/cabin vibes and then Hawaii.

The beginning brings you in immediately due to the conflict that starts the entire plot, and i enjoyed that!

I regret taking so long to read this, but it’s a good change of pace in holiday romances! Normally they’re all pretty much the same, but this one has a lot of good, creative, original ideas!

I would definitely recommend to my peers! 🎅🏼

Loved, loved, loved this book! So much fun! Great character, fast paced plot, great locations. Just a lot of fun!

This was such a perfect balance of holiday and anti-holiday vibes. I absolutely loved the best friend dynamics between the girls. And then love stories were utterly perfect! It was really like you got two romance books in one. I’ll definitely be recommending this one for the holidays!

This is a very charming story about two women,Holly and Ivy, who became immediate best friends when they met at a college frat party back in 2016.

Now in current day, Holly is about to get married to a man her parents think is perfect for her. Ivy, however, has never been a fan. As Holly and Ivy spend Holly’s last night before getting married together, they’re surprised at a knock on the door. It’s Holly’s finance saying he can’t marry Holly.

As Holly and Ivy deal with the shock, they also decide to switch their holiday plans. Holly will go to the eco-friendly cabin Ivy was planning to visit for the holidays while Holly insists Ivy go to Hawaii and enjoy the honeymoon she’ll never have. Neither could have predicted what they find when they switch holidays.

This was a cute and fun read that was a solid four stars! I highly recommend checking it out!

Such a light and fun read. Some parts felt too slow for me, but I enjoyed this novel overall. Would definitely recommend it for a cozy weekend.

This was a fun holiday romance with Christmas at the beach and in the mountains; a little bit for everyone.

I enjoyed the premise of the book and how Holly and Ivy each found what they were looking for when they were least expect it.

It was sometimes hard to keep Holly and Ivy's dialogue straight especially when they were together. I think the names were so similar it was hard to distinguish them apart.

Overall a cute holiday romance to add a holiday reading list.

Holly and Ivy have been ride or die besties since their frat party loving boyfriends insisted the meet because they were “döppelBANGERS” (the guys’ term, obvi).

When Holly’s fiancée dumps her for another woman rhe night before their wedding, she and Ivy decide that Ivy will go on Holly’s planned honeymoon to Hawaii and Holly will go to Ivy’s annual art retreat in the Adirondacks.

Both women receive more than they bargain for when their getaways come with very hunky fringe benefits, and possibly happily ever afters.

This funny and emotional novel was a wonderful meditation on the power of women showing up for each other no matter what. It was an enjoyable read, and while the steam wasn’t nearly as spicy as I prefer, it was still romantic.

I was fortunate to have received an advance reader copy from the author and NetGalley, and I’m happy to share my honest review.

🖤🖤🖤
3/5

I wanted to like this book. I requested it because the idea of it sounded so good. The Holiday-esque with twinning bffs? What wouldn’t there be to love. Well. I found out that quite a bit. I think this book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t relate to the characters and the writing was just eh for me. I also found out afterwards that it was written by one of the coauthors of All I Want For Christmas that I read last year and felt lackluster about. This wasn’t all bad though and I did enjoy parts of it a lot and I am glad I didn’t DNF this book!

Things I didn’t like:

💔 the way love is depicted…everyone experiences love differently. And I felt this gave some shade to what love feels like for different people. Marriage is meant to be a lifelong commitment, but people do change and also, love changes overtime. Yes, passion is amazing, but it’s not consistently sustainable. And I know books give us sustainable consistent passion, but it doesn’t need to tell us that it’s crazy to have anything different. That’s just untrue.

🗣️ the dialogue felt so unnatural. Especially when Holly & Ivy met. It felt like they were reading their About Me out loud to each other at a frat party.

🙅🏼‍♀️ the “spice” in this was a tad cringy. Was like 75% of a pepper rating.


Things I did like:

💔 the way Holly needed to grief her lost relationship alone. I related to this.

👩🏻‍❤️‍👩🏻 the fact that they look so much alike that they could just switch since the honeymoon was non-transferable.

❌ I hate miscommunication tropes, so I am SO glad that they were honest about their identities right off the bat!!

☁️ the cozy picturesque cabin in the woods

🪩 the winter dance

I loved this story! If you love best friends, Christmas vibes, “when you know you know” type of love, and vacations…you’ll want to check this one out!

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay published this week and is a very quick and easy read! Also very swoon-worthy.

The story features dual POV-best friends Holly and Ivy (who both coincidentally do not like Christmas). After Holly is dumped the night before her wedding, she insists that Ivy go on her honeymoon to paint, while Holly takes Ivy’s painting getaway in the snowy Hudson Valley. Both women encounter unexpected romances that just might change their views on Christmas.

A fun holiday read! Two best friends Holly and Ivy swap holiday vacations in this fun, fresh holiday romcom. I found the dual POV of both characters to be liable and entertaining. The author does a great job of expanding on the settings of each holiday trip and making you feel as though you’re there experiencing it alongside Holly and Ivy.

I enjoyed the BF duo and found it to be heartwarming watching their heartbreak turn into new love. This was a quick read for me, I almost wish I’d saved it for the holiday season, but close enough!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5

When I first started, this, I wasn’t super crazy on how it was written. And by that I mean, it was all third person narrator, even though the point of view and the story was changing from character to character (aka Holly and Ivy). I think personally for me I prefer it when it’s the character themselves narrating what’s happening and not a narrator narrating for them.

But I kept reading, and I have to say I really loved where the whole thing went. Like both of their adventures were just very inspirational. They both found themselves when they didn’t expect it at all and also found love. In Holly‘s case I honestly felt so bad for her, but then ending up meeting her high school academic rival felt very fortuitous. And with Ivy going on the honeymoon that Holly was supposed to have and meeting Oliver who is living the life that she should be living was like destiny because it showed her that she could live a life of art and make money.

A Christmas romance with a big focus on friendship too! Loved the two different settings - Kauai and a wintery small town. Double the romance! Swoony and a little steamy.

When Holly’s soon-to-be fiancé called their wedding off the day before it was supposed to happen, Holly was crushed. She needed to get away but couldn’t bear to go on the honeymoon that she was supposed to be going on with Matt. Lucky for her, her bestie Ivy was willing to help out. They were going to trade vacations. Holly would go to Hudson Valley and Ivy would go to Hawaii.

Ivy got to Hawaii only to find out that Holly’s ex WENT ON THE HONEYMOON WITH THE WOMAN HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH (aka there was no longer any room reservation for Ivy so she had to take matters into her own hands). Would it be the trip of a lifetime or instant regret?

I adored this book and really enjoyed Holly and Ivy’s friendship. They were always true to each other and valued one another’s feelings. This one is a must read for the holiday season…I would also recommend The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox (who I just found out is the same person as Julia McKay) which has similar vibes and a dreamy winter setting.

🎉 Book Review: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay 🎉

I just finished The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, and I’m giving it a solid 4.5 stars! ⭐️✨ This delightful rom-com is the perfect blend of holiday cheer, romance, and a sprinkle of adventure. Julia McKay has created a charming story that had me laughing and swooning from start to finish! ❤️

The premise of a honeymoon switch was so fun and refreshing, leading to unexpected twists and hilarious situations. The chemistry between the characters was electric, and I loved how their individual journeys of self-discovery intertwined. The festive backdrop added to the warmth of the story, making it a perfect read for the season! 🎄💕

A huge thank you to @PRHAudio and @PutnamBooks for granting me access to this delightful title! If you’re looking for a heartwarming escape filled with laughter and love, The Holiday Honeymoon Switch should definitely be on your TBR! 📚💖

#TheHolidayHoneymoonSwitch #JuliaMcKay #BookReview #4Point5Stars #RomComReads #Bookstagram #HolidayReads #FeelGoodFiction #ThankYou #PRHAudio #PutnamBooks

"The Holiday Honeymoon Switch" by Julia McKay is a delightful romantic comedy that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, each with their own quirks and charm, making it easy to root for them. The plot is engaging, weaving humor with heartfelt moments, though some twists felt a bit predictable. McKay's writing style is witty and fresh, adding to the book's overall appeal. While it has its flaws, it’s an enjoyable read perfect for anyone looking for a lighthearted escape. Overall, a solid 4-star experience!

Everyone needs to be friends with someone like Holly and Ivy in their life!
The author did a great job of making them feel so real as I was reading.
Christmas time of year makes the book a perfect one to grab and curl up with to pass a lazy wintry day.
The romance in the book was heartwarming and feel good theme.
This is one that I will read over and over again.
Thank you NetGalley and Julie McKay for the copy of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch. This is my personal review.

Marissa Stapley's debut romance novel, The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, written under the pseudonym Julia McKay, features two intertwined love stories. Told in third-person narrative, the novel follows Holly Beech and Ivy Casey, best friends since the Kolumbia-U Kristmas Kegger of 2016, as they navigate life and romance.

The night before Holly is to wed her college sweetheart, Matt breaks off the wedding, claiming he is in love with his co-worker, Abby. Despite Holly's shock and heartbreak, she manages to hold back her tears.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ivy, a senior graphic designer at Imagenue, has never liked Matt. Each year, Ivy takes a two-week holiday to paint for herself and her loved ones. This year, she plans to escape to Krimbo, a small town in the Hudson Valley. Not wanting to leave her best friend in distress, Ivy offers to forgo her painting retreat to care for Holly. However, Holly has a different idea: they should switch holiday destinations. Holly’s nonrefundable plane ticket and two-week resort stay in Hawaii present an opportunity. Having previously passed as each other’s doppelgängers in college, Holly proposes that Ivy use her ID to take the trip to Hawaii.

Upon arriving in Krimbo at the eco-friendly cabin, Holly discovers that her high school academic rival, Aiden Coleman, is the cabin's owner. Meanwhile, Ivy checks into the honeymoon suite in Hawaii, only to find that Matt and his mistress are also staying there. Enraged and defeated, she heads to the bar, where she meets Oliver, a charming bartender and National Geographic photographer. When Oliver learns of Ivy’s situation, he offers her a place to rent above his apartment, shared with his best friend, Larisa “Larry.” Together, the two best friends embark on a journey of self-discovery and love.

The friendship between Holly and Ivy is heartwarming and beautifully portrayed. They operate on an honor system, pledging to tell each other the truth, no matter how difficult it may be. While Holly’s grief over lost love and her shattered life plan is vivid, the emotional depth is somewhat hindered by the third-person narrative. Although this is Stapley’s romantic debut, it is not her first novel; as an award-nominated journalist, one might expect her to show rather than tell. The writing often reads like a play-by-play, lacking the imagery that could engage readers more deeply. Descriptions fail to utilize the five senses effectively, limiting readers' understanding of the characters' feelings. For instance, when Holly searches for a cat in the snow at night, the narrative misses opportunities to vividly depict her numb fingers and the visible breath in the cold air, leaving readers disconnected from the scene.

Additionally, the characters are not distinctly drawn. Aside from their careers and Aiden’s eco-friendly mission, both men share similar attitudes and personalities. Although Holly and Ivy are initially introduced with contrasting traits—Holly as an introvert and Ivy as an extrovert—their behaviors during the vacation ultimately converge, making it challenging to distinguish between them.